Stormy Weather

Finally. It’s Friday! It’s always tough to get back into the groove after a week of vacation.

It’s funny how 5 minutes on my work laptop can dissolve every ounce of tranquility.

Anyway, I wasn’t totally idyll last week. After completing the first draft of Misfortune Cookie and sending it off to my first readers, I moved onto Mystic Storm (Zephyr’s book) and Redemption (Galen’s book).

So far, Zephyr continues to resist me. Galen, on the other hand is being more cooperative. The only problem, Redemption is the next book after Ascension, which I still have out on submission. Normally, I wouldn’t spend time on Galen’s book, but he’s been itching for completion since I started in it in January 2010. Plus, he’s so much fun to write. I’ll miss him when the book is done (maybe that’s why I’m still working on it).

I have a theory that Mystic Storm is harder because it’s the next book in a published series. I admit there’s a small shadow of concern in the back of my mind. I don’t want to disappoint people who enjoyed the first book. I know I need to forget all that, but sometimes it’s hard.

I am happy to report I’m over the 30,000 word mark and that seems to be the “sweet spot” for me in my writing. I believe it takes me about 30,000 words to get into the groove of the story. At last, Kalli and Zephyr have come into their own and the story I’ve plotted seems to be flowing more smoothly. Yay!

Does that happen for anyone else? Is there a magic amount of words you need to get on the page before you know your characters?

If you have time, please stop by and visit me at the Scribes where I’m talking – Hootsuite!

Until we meet again next week, I’ll leave you with an image from my photo collection from Stonington, CT – Zephyr’s home.

This is the building that’s the inspiration for the Gallup Inn – Zephyr’s hotel/day spa.

Glad you like the picture, Janna. It’s funny. When I dreamed up Zephyr’s Inn all I had was a map of Stonington Point and my imagination. I was so delighted, when we finally went there last fall, to find an actual Inn that came pretty close to my idea!

I don’t have a magic # either. Sometimes I don’t feel fully immersed in the story until I’ve completed a full draft. Then I see what’s wrong with the plot and how to take it to a deeper level. I love your characters’ names!

I don’t have a magick #, but I do live with them in my head for a while before I get anything on paper. For me, it solidifies their character to think about them, go on imaginary adventures with them and basically sum up what motivates them. Can’t wait to read Zephyr’s story. Guess he’s being as elusive as the wind.

Thanks Savannah. I have a bunch of great photos of Stonington Point. When we were there, Hope Springs was being filmed (new Tommy Lee Jones, Meryl Streep flick), so we also got to see a movie in progress. And thank you for the sweet compliment!

Glad you had some time off. Writing a series or a sequel is hard. I can do it… sometimes. But I get requests to write a sequel to Captured constantly and I am so not sure I’m up to the task. I do know what you mean.